September 19, 2016

The ICO says “there’s nowhere to hide” for companies bombarding people with nuisance texts.

The fight against companies sending spam texts continues as the ICO issues a £30,000 fine to Manchester firm Carfinance247 Ltd.

The penalty is the result of an investigation prompted by 912 complaints about the car finance brokerage firm’s text messaging tactics. Its four-month marketing campaign involved 65,000 messages, all sent to members of the public without sufficient consent.

The law is clear that organisations must only send marketing text messages to individuals if they have agreed to receive them, except where there is a clearly defined customer relationship. Carfinance247 did not do this so they broke the law.

Messages, such as the following, were designed to drive people to a business website:

“You have been accepted for Car Finance no upfront costs or credit checks, Drive away in a car within 24hrs at www.go-finance.com to stop txt stop”.

When challenged by the ICO, the company claimed another business had sent the messages without their knowledge.

Steve Eckersley, the ICO’s head of enforcement said: “Carfinance247 Ltd tried to hide behind another company and distance themselves from the marketing practices involved. Let me be clear – if your business has hired someone else to provide direct marketing then the responsibility for the campaign is yours.  There is nowhere to hide.  If you break the rules we will find you and fine you”.  To read the ICO’s press release, click here.